President Ma Ying-jeou met at the Presidential Office on the afternoon of October 7 with the officers and officials that participated in a training course held by the Ministry of National Defense for the nation's allies in Latin America and the Caribbean. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, extended a warm welcome to the participants and their families from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Paraguay.
The president commented that he has led delegations to Latin America and the Caribbean three times since his inauguration in May of last year. He said the hospitality of the people and the beautiful scenery in the nations he visited made a deep impression on him. During the course of his visits, he held meetings with the heads of state and friends in the respective countries, seeking to enhance the friendships and further develop cooperative relationships. These visits and meetings were extremely meaningful and positive, he said.
President Ma stated that the ROC and its allies in Latin America and the Caribbean have a long history of friendship. In addition, close cooperation has been established in the areas of economics, agriculture, education and national defense. The holding of this training course for friends of the ROC in the region enables high-ranking officers and officials from these allied nations to network and build lasting friendships, he said. The president also remarked that during the three visits he made to the region, he ran into officers or officials who had previously participated in the course, demonstrating the important role that the course has played over the past decades.
President Ma expressed that he wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to thank the ROC's allies for their assistance and support in the ROC's efforts to participate in the international community. One such example of this was the ROC's attendance at the World Health Assembly in May of this year. He also asked the guests to pass his warmest gratitude to their respective governments after they return home.
The president said that since taking office last year he has strived to improve relations with mainland China. The main objective of this initiative has been the desire to reduce the state of tension in the Taiwan Strait and to pursue the possibility of further normalizing economic and trade relations between the two sides. President Ma stressed that the ROC's efforts in this regard will not impact its longstanding alliances and friendships with its allies. Furthermore, with the consent of both sides, the ROC and its allies can seek to even further expand their cooperative relationships. Discussions can be held on extending or expanding many cooperation projects that have been ongoing for years, he said.
Lastly, President Ma expressed his hope that the guests will visit many places during their stay here so they can make more friends and enjoy Taiwan's sumptuous food. He said he hopes they will take the warmth and enduring friendship of the people of the ROC back with them to their home countries.